The Daily Writer

It’s not unusual for writers to remain hidden. There is something about writing that attracts people who don’t want to be on camera, on stage, or behind a microphone. Even though you might feel more comfortable staying hidden, what would it feel like to challenge yourself and put your voice and face out into the world a little more? Is there perhaps something you’re missing by indulging your shyne...

One of the most famous lines from Shakespeare’s Hamlet is “To be or not to be, that is the question.” More than a line in a famous play, it’s also the central idea of the writer’s life. Being is an entirely different state than wanting. Almost everyone wants to be a writer . . . but far fewer people do the work of being a writer. On this episode, you’ll discover that your identity as a writer is n...

Edward Gibbon was one of the most famous historians of all time. As the author of the six-volume set, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , he showed the world that history could be informative and entertaining, all while making the ancient world accessible to the contemporary reader. When he started work on the books, he did not necessarily have this end goal in mind. In fact,...

Writing, for all the beauty and goodness it brings into the world, can also be a force of destruction. It requires such a huge amount of emotional energy that we are prone to fill the subsequent void with things that make us feel good in the moment but leave us empty. When a creative person pursues their craft to the exclusion of everything else, the art destroys the artist. Why is this? On this e...

There is a constant push and pull to the writer’s life. On the one hand, we want to have control over every aspect of our writing and creativity. We want to avoid being under the thumb of any entity or force that would limit our options. On the other hand, there is something to be said for giving up control, isn’t there? On today’s episode, you’ll discover why it’s important to stop trying to cont...

We are taking a brief hiatus for 2 weeks, but will return on Monday, August. 2. I like to take a short break during the summer and around Christmas. Feel free to catch up on the hundreds of episodes in the archives! In the meantime, I encourage you to check out a fantastic book for writers: The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler. I’ve been working my way through t...

If you've been listening to my podcast for a while, then Jennifer Harshman is no stranger to you. She has been a guest a few times before, and each time she's shared lots of wisdom about productivity and writing. Jennifer is the owner of Harshman Services, an agency that provides editing and other services to authors and publishers. She is also the author of the wonderful book, Find a Re...

I am thrilled to bring you this conversation with my good friend Alex Barker. He is the founder of The Happy PharmD, a company that helps pharmacists find work that is fulfilling and inspiring. He's also the author of the book Indispensable: The Prescription for a Fulfilling Pharmacy Career . Because we have been involved in several of the same groups and online entrepreneur communities, I&ap...

Why do we make writing so difficult? When you get down to it, writing is a very simple thing. We take a pen and write on paper or in a notebook. We sit in front of a computer screen and type on a keyboard. Or we dictate into a device that transcribes our language into words. On today’s episode, you’ll be reminded why the most important thing to do as a writer is simple: just write. ***     Are you...

When it comes to the creative arts, there have always been two roles in society: those who are creators and those who are critics. The creators are the ones who make things, while critics offer intelligent reflection and commentary on culture. But make no mistake, the real action lies in creating something. The French novelist Gustave Flaubert said, “A man is a critic when he cannot be an artist,...

On July 4th, 1776, the Second Continental Congress pronounced that it was officially independent of British rule. Known as the Declaration of Independence, this document made it clear that the thirteen colonies had their own sovereign identity. July 4th is a uniquely American holiday, but there is another kind of declaration that every writer should make, no matter what their nationality is. On to...

It’s natural for us to talk about our successes and triumphs. It’s not quite so natural to talk about our mistakes and failures. We’re afraid people will think less of us. Truthfully, though, none of us is perfect. And whenever we see another writer be vulnerable enough to talk about their failures, we relate to it. On today’s episode, you’ll discover how being vulnerable strengthens your relation...

When you look back over your life, you can see a pattern. We spend lots of time and energy going from person to person trying to find an answer to the central question that drives our lives: What is my purpose? On today’s episode, you’ll gain knowledge about how to discover your purpose, so you can live the life you are meant to live. ***     Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, genero...

As I talk to writers, one of the most frustrating parts of the book creation process seems to be creating an outline. Many people have great ideas for books. They seem equally motivated to tackle the writing and publishing aspects. But the outline gives writers a lot of trouble because it seems like a mysterious, vague process. On this episode, I’ll walk you through a simple 5-step roadmap for out...

I had the opportunity to speak with Marie-Elizabeth Mali. I have only recently gotten to know Marie-Elizabeth through an introduction by our mutual friend, Tricia Brouk. I wanted to have Marie on the show because it's so easy to get lost in the processes and details of writing and publishing, and so easy to lose the heart of what we do and why we are doing it. Drawing on her Master’s in Chine...

No matter what you’re writing, your mission as a writer is to help the reader get a clearer vision of life. But how is your vision? Do you see clearly? No one can believe your writing, believe the truth in it, unless you first believe it yourself. On today’s episode, you’ll discover why your vision and your belief in what you’re doing are essential in accomplishing your mission. ***     Are you lo...

Nothing else defines you quite like your family. It’s where you got your name, your personality, your sense of a place in this world, and so much more. Some writers came from a supportive environment, while others were not so lucky. On today’s episode, you’ll be encouraged that regardless of what family you come from, you have the ability to dream big, set huge goals, and define yourself. ***    ...

It’s scary to start a writing project. But you know what’s even scarier? Finishing it. Sometimes we think that being a writer means to be constantly gaining new ideas and exploring creative possibilities—which is true. But those ideas and possibilities must live somewhere. They need to be published. On today’s episode, Kent challenges you to be confident and finish what you started. ***     Are yo...

Much has been written about the voice that lives in every writer’s head. We normally think and talk about this voice as a bad thing. So, it’s not a surprise that we think of that voice as untrustworthy. But if you listen as closely as you can, there is another voice. On today’s episode, Kent reminds us why we can trust our intuition when we make creative decisions. ***     Are you looking for a co...

This one is for all the kids who were always picked last in middle school gym class. You remember what it was like: You’d stand there awkwardly with the group, each kid getting their name called by one of the team captains. Each time, you hoped you wouldn’t be the last one. But once again, it got down to four, then three, then two, and you were the only one left. On today’s episode, you’ll be remi...

On today’s episode, I share a business update about my ghostwriting business, what’s been happening with the Daily Writer, and a few updates from my personal life, as well. ***     Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our  Daily Writer Community .      Check out our  Daily Writing Prompts , which...

I'm excited to feature a conversation with my friend Matt McWilliams. Matt helps online business owners and brands, both large and small, to leverage the power of partners to grow their businesses. He teaches you how to make money as an affiliate and how to work better with affiliates. He has worked with the best of the best in the online, entrepreneur, and leadership space, including Ray Edw...

Have you ever done a little bit of research on the percentage of people who start writing books but don’t finish them? Statistics vary, but no matter what numbers you look at, one thing is clear: most people who start writing a book never finish it. A casual conversation with writers will reveal the same thing, at least if they are being honest. On today’s episode, you’ll learn why writers do not...

If you ever run a race, you’ll notice there are two kinds of runners: those who are competing against everyone else, and those who are competing against themselves. The ones who are competing against everyone else take running very seriously. They like to set records and get the glory of being known as a winner. The runners who are competing against themselves aren’t worried about anyone else’s ti...

From the time we are kids, our parents and teachers told us to be ourselves. It is especially important in your writing, where it is critical to develop your own unique voice. It can be confusing when you are trying to build your writing career, because you must fit into a category. Readers expect that a book will fit certain conventions as far as page count, length, and divisions into chapters. O...